Goodwill breaks ground for Bellevue expansion

BELLEVUE – Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky counties hosted a ground-breaking event at its Bellevue manufacturing facility in preparation for expansion of warehouse and dockage space.

The Goodwill Bellevue plant site is located in the former Pamida building on Ohio 269 on north end of the city. The area had become a blight since Pamida closed in 2008.

In 2015, the property owners, the Lichtcsien family, donated it to Goodwill. The donation, valued at $600,000, was one of the largest single donations for Goodwill Industries for this area. A full remodel was completed two years later and included lighting, electric, suppression system, HVAC, pluming, interior, exterior and IT systems.

Manufacturing jobs were secured, employees were hired and work began at the new Goodwill Bellevue manufacturing facility in 2017.

The Goodwill Bellevue plant has established many partnerships with local businesses to complete light assembly and piece work and is looking to grow its business with Whirlpool. Expanded warehouse space and additional dockage area are both necessary to produce the increased assemblage items and to allow for the additional truck shipments and deliveries.

The mission of Goodwill is to provide customized employment support services to individuals in the community experiencing disabling or disadvantaging conditions. The traditional means of generating revenue for Goodwill is the iconic thrift store that so many are familiar with.

The Bellevue manufacturing plant represents an alternate way of generating the necessary revenue to fulfill the mission work.

As a non-profit, Goodwill relies on the generosity of its community members for support and funding.

“This project not only establishes a renewed commitment to the community of Bellevue but allows Goodwill to stay committed to their mission of creating jobs in the local area,” Goodwill spokeswoman Jill Barton said in a news release. “From the additional truck drivers and material handlers to the new assembly line positions that will be available, Goodwill is proud to be a job creator.”

To be the best possible stewards of the generous material and monetary donations received from the local residents is the primary goal of Goodwill; driving the decision-making processes to always identify how to better serve those in need, Barton said.